That “site cleanup” fee gets a lot of people. I’ve seen line items like “disposal surcharge” or “weatherproofing materials” sneak in too. If the contract doesn’t break down every cost, I ask for a revised estimate—no shame in wanting clarity before committing.
That “site cleanup” line always makes me pause too. I had a window guy try to tack on a $150 “debris removal” fee last year, which was wild since there wasn’t much debris to begin with—just some old caulk and a couple of trim scraps. When I asked about it, he said it was “standard,” but after a little back and forth, he dropped it. Guess it pays to question those vague charges.
I’ve also noticed the “weatherproofing” thing you mentioned. Sometimes it’s legit, but sometimes it’s just a tube of caulk and a roll of flashing tape they’d use anyway. I get that folks need to make a living, but some of these line items feel padded. If the estimate’s not clear, I’ll just say, “Hey, can you walk me through this?” Nine times out of ten, they’ll trim something or at least explain it better.
I figure if I’m paying for it, I should know what I’m paying for. Not trying to nickel and dime anyone, just don’t want to get nickeled and dimed myself.